Review #12 : Buffalo Trace, Kentuckey Straight Bourbon Whiskey 45% ABV

Here's one of the goodies that I brought back from Hawaii. This bottle when opened was hit hard because it is very drinkable whiskey and I was in a generous sharing sort of mood at the time. I've really enjoyed this bottle and would recommend it as being great value for money.

Price: I paid about $32 US for this in Hawaii and here in Melbourne I can pick up a bottle for $52.90. This is pretty good value until I notice that my bottle from the US is a tasty 45 % ABV but the bottle in Melbourne is only 40% ABV so it might be less flavorsome. That's odd! Maybe this has something to do with Americans opinions of Aussies not being able to handle their drink? Or are they just watering down the product for a different market to stretch the product. Or maybe what I picked up was a more premium version of the product. For what I paid and for how delicious this whiskey is i'm giving it 6/6

Appearance: Dark amber gold, looks great! Natural color by law given that it sold as a straight bourbon in the states (I believe) 6/6

Available: It is available, I can get it in my local bottle shop, online, in whiskey bars but not in every pub. 5/6

Marketing: These guys have possibly the oldest distillery in the US and have the records to back it up. The link for the website is below and at the time of writing there is a virtual distillery tour with videos and a map of the distillery with photographs and 360 degree views which is pretty good. 6/6

http://www.buffalotrace.com/our-bourbon.html

Packaging and Label: The bottle is pleasantly shaped and clear and the label is distinctive. It's straight bourbon so there are legal requirements for what has to be in the bottle and how it has to be made. There's a little of the history and legend of the distillery on the back of the bottle which also talks about the ruggedness of the wilderness or something like that. What I do like is that they have a phone number beneath the line "let us hear your thunder" that's great! - I'm not going to try it to see if it works but nice touch! 6/6

Nose: there's a very pungent spirit forward nose that you definitely don't have to go searching for. molasses, oak, some spice and something musty and after a few minutes t eases off a little and sweetness comes through with caramel and fudge. 15/20

Taste on entry: honey and caramel sweetness, peppery spice, oak wood, leather and some spiciness beyond the pepper, not world beating but not bad by any means either.  15/20

Mouth feel: really good, top marks! This is a really full bodied dram which is just lovely and velvety and delicious. 10/10

Finish: peppery, spice, and some citrus peel bitterness, quite a nice long finish. 17/20

This is a really good value for money dram with big flavors, Really easy to drink and complex enough that you notice differences as you go through the glass.

Total score: 86/100

cheers,
Kev.